I’ll admit, the simplicity is nice; but I’ve always liked the Quebec flag.
FineJames
01 Nov 05
Ohio
Paul D
01 Nov 05
Incidentally, New Mexico, Texas, and Qu�bec came in first, second, and third among Canadian and US flags in a poll carried out by the North American Vexillological Association.
(Flaggot, I admit SC’s flag is pretty neat. I wasn’t familiar with it before.)
Pfft, Texas. A lone star, isolated, and without friends. Alaska, a state not worried about its size, knows that you shouldn’t be a lone star… you should be a guiding star.
The Alaskan flag is cooler than New Mexico’s, but New Mexico’s is hotter.
Other categories to consider:
Most efficient use of material - Alabama
Looks better with 3D glasses on - Hawaii
Was once used as the background for a Superfriends episode - Arizona
dustym
01 Nov 05
Being from the state, I love the Texas flag, but I’ve always preferred New Mexico’s flag and license plates.
JohnO
01 Nov 05
Ah South Caronlina flag.. reminds me of a vacation on Hilton Head island.. i was all about the palm trees.. loved it..
New Mexico is definitely the best, with Texas and Arizona close behind. You have to give props to western states for breaking the mold (California and Colorado also come to mind).
Hawaii is pretty cool as well.
Donk
01 Nov 05
Texas? Ummm . . no.
Maryland: most excellent.
Eamon
01 Nov 05
Pfft. The Texas flag is just a cheap rip-off of the Chilean flag.
>I don�t think there�s a state flag in existence that conjures up the kinds of feelings within its citizens that Texans feel for theirs.
Uh, the South Carolina flag does. The palmetto tree (it’s not a palm tree) is dense and the tree on the flag represents what the forts were made of to help defend against the british army.
I’ll admit that most state flags suck. The ones that use state seals are especially lame. Here are my favs: New Mexico, Arizona, Rhode Island, Indiana, Maryland, and South Carolina.
I love the Tennessee flag. It looks like a bowling ball. Great post.
SH
01 Nov 05
“I don�t think there�s a state flag in existence that conjures up the kinds of feelings within its citizens that Texans feel for theirs.
I’ll second the nod to the South Carolina flag, and add that the feelings conjured up for it in the Lowcountry completely trump the feelings Texas could offer for their meager star flag. If you’ve ever been to South Carolina, you’ll recall that the Palmetto is proudly emblazoned on EVERYTHING, from license plates to dinner plates. It marks every street sign, it is worn on flip flops and belts and keychains, and you’d be hardpressed to meet a southern lady who’s fine china isn’t adorned with a palmetto tree or branch or simply the color “palmetto green.” Prominence of the state flag is a part of the culture in SC, and isn’t merely sport or kitsch like it is in Texas.
Plus the streets in Charleston are lined with palmettos, and the state capital building has them carved into the marble, right under the monument to The Ten Commandments and Strom Thurmond.
Have you ever been to Texas? The lone star, and the flag design is on everything here as well. It is just as much engrained in the culture as the palmetto is in SC.
I do agree with you however, about the palmetto and SC, I have deep family roots in SC. I just think you’re slighting Texas a bit in your remarks.
Tman
01 Nov 05
Take a poll of non-Americans and the Texas flag would be the most recognizable, by far.
SH
01 Nov 05
“Have you ever been to Texas?”
Actually, I have, many times! And on my last roadtrip through the state my travelling companion and I spent the two days it took us to drive Texas end to end counting the number of times we actually *saw* a “lone star” during our stops. I’ll admit it was on the signs on the highway, but that doesn’t count for much, and we did see it at one hotel we stayed in near San Antonio, and beyond that few stars abounded during our stay. But then again, we also hated Texas and drove as fast as we could to get out, so perhaps we weren’t paying too much attention. ;)
Don Wilson
01 Nov 05
Actually, I have, many times! And on my last roadtrip through the state my travelling companion and I spent the two days it took us to drive Texas end to end counting the number of times we actually *saw* a �lone star� during our stops. I�ll admit it was on the signs on the highway, but that doesn�t count for much, and we did see it at one hotel we stayed in near San Antonio, and beyond that few stars abounded during our stay. But then again, we also hated Texas and drove as fast as we could to get out, so perhaps we weren�t paying too much attention. ;)
And how many big apples do you see in New York City? Aside from the apple store, so no puns are needed.
RFontaine
01 Nov 05
Keep your state flags. Our New Hampshire motto kicks all ass:
LIVE FREE OR DIE!
Yeah!
RFontaine
01 Nov 05
Keep your state flags. Our New Hampshire state motto kicks all ass:
The flag is the “corporate logo” of a state. NM, TX, AZ, SC, AK are the better ones with TX by far being the best. My “lone star” conveyed against a simple to reproduce design.
Regretably I live in one of the stupid “Seal of” states - the flag simply the seal with the screaming ALL CAPS “K A N S A S” in the middle of it. No lower case or superscript at the time.
I am surprised that states don’t look to change their flags .. many could use some updating.
brad
01 Nov 05
LIVE FREE OR DIE!
I thought it was “Live Cheap or Die.”
Or, given that the state has no motorcycle-helmet law and you see all these bareheaded bikers in the summer, maybe it should be:
Live Free and Die
Graham McIntire
01 Nov 05
I’d have to say Texas as well (not just because I’m Texan!)
It’s also one of the few flags even my wife’s first grade class can draw and you can recognize.
Dave Peele
01 Nov 05
I have to say I like the Colorado and Tennesse flags the best. I am a bit partial to the NC flag!!! The New Mexico flag is pretty nice too.
New Hampshire … “Live Free Or Die” … what a j-o-k-e.
Driving into the state, two signs (in order):
“Welcome To New Hampshire - Live Free Or Die”
“Radar Detectors Are Illegal”
HA HA … that’s great stuff. You couldn’t make that up!
:-)
Anonymous Coward
29 Nov 05
no because mexico is the best.
coward
30 Nov 05
new mexico sucks
coward
30 Nov 05
new mexico sucks
bitch
30 Nov 05
new mexico sucks
carl lagerfeld
06 Jan 06
The California Bear Flag is the best, it depicts the glory and power of California.
Greg
05 Feb 06
It’s notable that everyone who likes the Texas and California flags happen to live in those states, but those with impartial opinions seem to list states flags from states like South Carolina, Maryland, or New Mexico.
JJ
19 Apr 06
With a population of 36, California is the largest U.S. state in population and the third largest in area. California has the sixth largest economy in the world and is responsible for 13% of the United States’ gross domestic product. California is also the home of several significant economic regions such as Hollywood the California Central Valley (agriculture), Silicon Valley (computers and high tech), and the Wine Country (wine). For this reason no other State can compare with California�..cuz we are the US�..all other state suck�
Sisco
09 May 06
I live in New Mexico but dont like out flag. The best one i think is Arizonas. By the way, New Mexico is not hot. We have colder winters than much of New England and mountains of over 10,000 feet. A mounain next to me got 10+ feet of snow in a single snow storm this year. the town it was next too(which i will not mention.) barely got any. Tempeture was -60 degrees. i dont know why the newspapers never count this stuff, i wonder why the almanacs always get the temp wrong.
RG
09 Oct 06
Although I’m from California, I’ve always been partial to the Iowa flag. It doesn’t have any regional symbols (i.e. pigs or corn, thank God) so it could be almost any state.
JJ - it’s people like you that makes me be embarassed to be from and living in California. Maybe it was all generated from the Texan bravado, but frankly, I expect such foolishness from Texans, not Californians. Would you start saying you’re from Idaho or something, please??
RG
09 Oct 06
Although I’m from California, I’ve always been partial to the Iowa flag. It doesn’t have any regional symbols (i.e. pigs or corn, thank God) so it could be almost any state.
JJ - it’s people like you that makes me be embarassed to be from and living in California. Maybe it was all generated from the Texan bravado, but frankly, I expect such foolishness from Texans, not Californians. Would you start saying you’re from Idaho or something, please??
75 comments so far (Jump to latest)
Brady 01 Nov 05
Yes, the Texas state flag.
Dan Boland 01 Nov 05
It’s nice, but my home state of Virginia is the only one with a bare-breasted woman on it. =)
Mark 01 Nov 05
I second Brady.
Anonymous Coward 01 Nov 05
Are you sure that’s a woman, Dan?
Paul D 01 Nov 05
I’ll admit, the simplicity is nice; but I’ve always liked the Quebec flag.
FineJames 01 Nov 05
Ohio
Paul D 01 Nov 05
Incidentally, New Mexico, Texas, and Qu�bec came in first, second, and third among Canadian and US flags in a poll carried out by the North American Vexillological Association.
(Flaggot, I admit SC’s flag is pretty neat. I wasn’t familiar with it before.)
sxates 01 Nov 05
I’ll second the Texas flag :)
Mr. Kahn 01 Nov 05
Pfft, Texas. A lone star, isolated, and without friends. Alaska, a state not worried about its size, knows that you shouldn’t be a lone star… you should be a guiding star.
The Alaskan flag is cooler than New Mexico’s, but New Mexico’s is hotter.
Pete Prodoehl 01 Nov 05
Yes, there is. Alaska’s is cooler because it’s hot in New Mexico and it’s cold in Alaska.
Or something like that…
BeaverLover 01 Nov 05
Definitely Oregon’s flag, because it’s all about the Beaver.
wdk 01 Nov 05
Texas. Handsdown.
Mike Moscow 01 Nov 05
Florida’s flag is gay…
Rick 01 Nov 05
Other categories to consider:
Most efficient use of material - Alabama
Looks better with 3D glasses on - Hawaii
Was once used as the background for a Superfriends episode - Arizona
dustym 01 Nov 05
Being from the state, I love the Texas flag, but I’ve always preferred New Mexico’s flag and license plates.
JohnO 01 Nov 05
Ah South Caronlina flag.. reminds me of a vacation on Hilton Head island.. i was all about the palm trees.. loved it..
Danny Cohen 01 Nov 05
The best flag is not a state flag, but a city flag:
Washington, DC
Phil 01 Nov 05
Any flag with Athena on it gets extra points.
Dan Boland 01 Nov 05
Anonymous: No, it’s a guy with man boobs, of course it’s a woman.
KTS 01 Nov 05
An interesting tibit from a New Mexican:
The symbol on the flag is the Zia symbol from the Zia Pueblo (http://www.zia.com/home/Zia_Info.html).
urbanchords 01 Nov 05
Chicago has the best city flag.
http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/chiflag.html
Josh Williams 01 Nov 05
New Mexico is definitely the best, with Texas and Arizona close behind. You have to give props to western states for breaking the mold (California and Colorado also come to mind).
Hawaii is pretty cool as well.
Donk 01 Nov 05
Texas? Ummm . . no.
Maryland: most excellent.
Eamon 01 Nov 05
Pfft. The Texas flag is just a cheap rip-off of the Chilean flag.
Greg Militello 01 Nov 05
Don’t forget Colorado (http://www.50states.com/flag/coflag.htm)
Or Tennessee (http://www.50states.com/flag/tnflag.htm
Too bad NY’s is horrid. Allong with our pink and green drivers licenses. Who has the best drivers license?
Anonymous Coward 01 Nov 05
Radical Bender:
That’s because “proud” Texans are actually insecure and certainly over-patriotic.
(Not all Texans . . just the ones that make a big deal out of being ‘Texan’).
Paul Watson 01 Nov 05
I like it but in isolation I’d think it was the flag of a global-domination bound corporate.
I have always been partial to the Scottish flag.
Dutch Rapley 01 Nov 05
>I don�t think there�s a state flag in existence that conjures up the kinds of feelings within its citizens that Texans feel for theirs.
Uh, the South Carolina flag does. The palmetto tree (it’s not a palm tree) is dense and the tree on the flag represents what the forts were made of to help defend against the british army.
I’ll admit that most state flags suck. The ones that use state seals are especially lame. Here are my favs: New Mexico, Arizona, Rhode Island, Indiana, Maryland, and South Carolina.
Don Wilson 01 Nov 05
http://p.vtourist.com/1724535-Texas_State_Flag-Texas.gif
Instantly recognizable.
chris sivori 01 Nov 05
Texas has the best flag. It’s obvious.
theMaab 01 Nov 05
Yep, ….. Texas!
theMaab 01 Nov 05
cool post btw!
Moe 01 Nov 05
I love the Tennessee flag. It looks like a bowling ball. Great post.
SH 01 Nov 05
“I don�t think there�s a state flag in existence that conjures up the kinds of feelings within its citizens that Texans feel for theirs.
I’ll second the nod to the South Carolina flag, and add that the feelings conjured up for it in the Lowcountry completely trump the feelings Texas could offer for their meager star flag. If you’ve ever been to South Carolina, you’ll recall that the Palmetto is proudly emblazoned on EVERYTHING, from license plates to dinner plates. It marks every street sign, it is worn on flip flops and belts and keychains, and you’d be hardpressed to meet a southern lady who’s fine china isn’t adorned with a palmetto tree or branch or simply the color “palmetto green.” Prominence of the state flag is a part of the culture in SC, and isn’t merely sport or kitsch like it is in Texas.
Plus the streets in Charleston are lined with palmettos, and the state capital building has them carved into the marble, right under the monument to The Ten Commandments and Strom Thurmond.
benny 01 Nov 05
@Greg: I think my new MN drivers’ license must be truly awesome.. everyone that sees it has something to say about it.
Sam 01 Nov 05
What, no Cali love? Okay, didn’t think so.
Anonymous Coward 01 Nov 05
Come one… if we’re talking feelings this is THE flag:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America#The_Battle_Flag
Kyle 01 Nov 05
One more vote for the Lone Star…
Mark 01 Nov 05
SH (may I call you Sarah?) -
Have you ever been to Texas? The lone star, and the flag design is on everything here as well. It is just as much engrained in the culture as the palmetto is in SC.
I do agree with you however, about the palmetto and SC, I have deep family roots in SC. I just think you’re slighting Texas a bit in your remarks.
Tman 01 Nov 05
Take a poll of non-Americans and the Texas flag would be the most recognizable, by far.
SH 01 Nov 05
“Have you ever been to Texas?”
Actually, I have, many times! And on my last roadtrip through the state my travelling companion and I spent the two days it took us to drive Texas end to end counting the number of times we actually *saw* a “lone star” during our stops. I’ll admit it was on the signs on the highway, but that doesn’t count for much, and we did see it at one hotel we stayed in near San Antonio, and beyond that few stars abounded during our stay. But then again, we also hated Texas and drove as fast as we could to get out, so perhaps we weren’t paying too much attention. ;)
Don Wilson 01 Nov 05
Actually, I have, many times! And on my last roadtrip through the state my travelling companion and I spent the two days it took us to drive Texas end to end counting the number of times we actually *saw* a �lone star� during our stops. I�ll admit it was on the signs on the highway, but that doesn�t count for much, and we did see it at one hotel we stayed in near San Antonio, and beyond that few stars abounded during our stay. But then again, we also hated Texas and drove as fast as we could to get out, so perhaps we weren�t paying too much attention. ;)
And how many big apples do you see in New York City? Aside from the apple store, so no puns are needed.
RFontaine 01 Nov 05
Keep your state flags. Our New Hampshire motto kicks all ass:
LIVE FREE OR DIE!
Yeah!
RFontaine 01 Nov 05
Keep your state flags. Our New Hampshire state motto kicks all ass:
LIVE FREE OR DIE!
Yeah!
Mike 01 Nov 05
The flag is the “corporate logo” of a state. NM, TX, AZ, SC, AK are the better ones with TX by far being the best. My “lone star” conveyed against a simple to reproduce design.
Regretably I live in one of the stupid “Seal of” states - the flag simply the seal with the screaming ALL CAPS “K A N S A S” in the middle of it. No lower case or superscript at the time.
I am surprised that states don’t look to change their flags .. many could use some updating.
brad 01 Nov 05
LIVE FREE OR DIE!
I thought it was “Live Cheap or Die.”
Or, given that the state has no motorcycle-helmet law and you see all these bareheaded bikers in the summer, maybe it should be:
Live Free and Die
Graham McIntire 01 Nov 05
I’d have to say Texas as well (not just because I’m Texan!)
It’s also one of the few flags even my wife’s first grade class can draw and you can recognize.
Dave Peele 01 Nov 05
I have to say I like the Colorado and Tennesse flags the best. I am a bit partial to the NC flag!!! The New Mexico flag is pretty nice too.
Scott Johnson 01 Nov 05
Yeah, that’s definitely a sweet flag. I love symmetry.
Don Schenck 02 Nov 05
New Hampshire … “Live Free Or Die” … what a j-o-k-e.
Driving into the state, two signs (in order):
“Welcome To New Hampshire - Live Free Or Die”
“Radar Detectors Are Illegal”
HA HA … that’s great stuff. You couldn’t make that up!
:-)
Anonymous Coward 29 Nov 05
no because mexico is the best.
coward 30 Nov 05
new mexico sucks
coward 30 Nov 05
new mexico sucks
bitch 30 Nov 05
new mexico sucks
carl lagerfeld 06 Jan 06
The California Bear Flag is the best, it depicts the glory and power of California.
Greg 05 Feb 06
It’s notable that everyone who likes the Texas and California flags happen to live in those states, but those with impartial opinions seem to list states flags from states like South Carolina, Maryland, or New Mexico.
JJ 19 Apr 06
With a population of 36, California is the largest U.S. state in population and the third largest in area. California has the sixth largest economy in the world and is responsible for 13% of the United States’ gross domestic product. California is also the home of several significant economic regions such as Hollywood the California Central Valley (agriculture), Silicon Valley (computers and high tech), and the Wine Country (wine). For this reason no other State can compare with California�..cuz we are the US�..all other state suck�
Sisco 09 May 06
I live in New Mexico but dont like out flag. The best one i think is Arizonas. By the way, New Mexico is not hot. We have colder winters than much of New England and mountains of over 10,000 feet. A mounain next to me got 10+ feet of snow in a single snow storm this year. the town it was next too(which i will not mention.) barely got any. Tempeture was -60 degrees. i dont know why the newspapers never count this stuff, i wonder why the almanacs always get the temp wrong.
RG 09 Oct 06
Although I’m from California, I’ve always been partial to the Iowa flag. It doesn’t have any regional symbols (i.e. pigs or corn, thank God) so it could be almost any state.
JJ - it’s people like you that makes me be embarassed to be from and living in California. Maybe it was all generated from the Texan bravado, but frankly, I expect such foolishness from Texans, not Californians. Would you start saying you’re from Idaho or something, please??
RG 09 Oct 06
Although I’m from California, I’ve always been partial to the Iowa flag. It doesn’t have any regional symbols (i.e. pigs or corn, thank God) so it could be almost any state.
JJ - it’s people like you that makes me be embarassed to be from and living in California. Maybe it was all generated from the Texan bravado, but frankly, I expect such foolishness from Texans, not Californians. Would you start saying you’re from Idaho or something, please??